Bengals Statistics

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CINCINNATI — The Bengals are familiar with Houston Texans star defensive lineman J.J. Watt after
facing him twice last season, but they can learn even more about him from their starting rookie
guard, Kevin Zeitler.

Watt and Zeitler, both first-round draft picks, grew up about a mile apart from each other in
suburban Milwaukee, and they were teammates at Wisconsin.

They’ll be facing off on Saturday in Houston when the Bengals and Texans meet in an AFC
wild-card playoff game, a rematch of Cincinnati’s 31-10 loss last year.

“It’s just insane the things he can do,” Zeitler said. “He has really long arms and takes
advantage of them. He can swim over you, he can pull and rip you. He has very few weaknesses, if
any. The big thing, because he jumps and swats so many balls down, you have to get on him and hold
him down. You can’t let him jump.”

Watt led the NFL in sacks this season with 20.5 and is considered a candidate to win the league’s
defensive player of the year award. The Texans use him at all spots along the defensive line, and
his athleticism and unorthodox style of play led to a league-high 16 passes knocked down.

The Bengals were tied 10-10 with the Texans late in the first half last year when Watt leaped at
the line of scrimmage, intercepted a pass from Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton and raced 29
yards for a touchdown.

“He just made a good play,” Dalton said yesterday. “He got his hands up and was able to get the
interception. … If he didn’t touch it, I complete the pass.”

Although Watt often moves around the line, Zeitler will draw the bulk of assignments against his
former college teammate, who traded compliments about his foe.

“He’s a heck of a player,” Watt said. “I have a lot of respect for him and the way he approaches
everything. I love Kevin — he’s a great guy.”

The great indoors

The Bengals took three buses about five miles north from Paul Brown Stadium to the University of
Cincinnati campus, where the team practiced inside the bubble at the Sheakley Athletic Center.

Because they’ll be playing indoors at Reliant Stadium in Houston, speakers blasting crowd noise
were used during the workouts to help the team prepare for the atmosphere.

Uncertain status

An official injury report hadn’t yet been released by the NFL yesterday, so the status of
Bengals running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis is unknown. The running back was a late scratch before
kickoff and didn’t play last Sunday in the regular-season finale win over Baltimore because his
hamstring tightened during pregame warm-ups.

Green-Ellis, who leads the Bengals with 1,094 rushing yards, did not practice yesterday.

“He’ll be all right,” coach Marvin Lewis said. “He’ll be fine at some point.”

Safety Chris Crocker, who sat out the final three quarters of the Baltimore game after suffering
a right quad injury, and safety Taylor Mays (leg) also did not practice. Crocker said after the
game he was fine.